The Lord Is My Shepherd — Knowing and Trusting the Good Shepherd

What does it really mean to say, “The Lord is my Shepherd”? In this message, Promise Bradley invites us to move beyond seeing Psalm 23 as familiar words and into a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Through Psalm 23 and John 10, she reminds us that God does not simply want us to know about Him. He wants us to know Him personally, trust His leadership, and faithfully follow wherever He leads.

Knowing the Good Shepherd Personally

At the heart of The Lord Is My Shepherd is the truth that David’s declaration was deeply personal. He did not describe God as a shepherd in general. He declared, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” That same invitation is available to every believer today.

Jesus calls His followers into a relationship where He knows them by name, cares for them, protects them, and leads them with perfect wisdom. Rather than relying on our own understanding, we can confidently place our lives in the hands of the One who always leads with love and faithfulness.

Trusting the Shepherd’s Leading

Following Jesus does not always mean taking the easiest path. Instead, the Good Shepherd leads His people on paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Sometimes those paths include uncertainty, sacrifice, or seasons we would never choose on our own. Yet every step has a purpose because the Shepherd always sees what His sheep cannot.

Throughout The Lord Is My Shepherd, Promise challenges believers to trust God’s direction even when His plans differ from their own. Using the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Peter, and the older brother in Jesus’ parable, she demonstrates how easily we try to control outcomes instead of trusting the Shepherd who already knows the way.

Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice

One of the encouraging truths in The Lord Is My Shepherd is that Jesus still speaks to His people. His sheep can recognize His voice as they spend time in Scripture, prayer, and relationship with Him.

Rather than believing the lie that hearing God is reserved for a select few, believers can grow in discernment by continually drawing near to the Shepherd. As we learn His character through His Word, we become more confident in recognizing His leading in everyday life.

Letting Go of Control

A central challenge of this message is learning to surrender control. Many people naturally want to manage every situation, relationship, and outcome. However, Promise reminds us that God has not called us to control others. Instead, He calls us to trust Him while allowing the Holy Spirit to produce self-control within us.

As believers release fear, pride, and the need to control every circumstance, they discover greater freedom to follow Jesus with confidence. The Shepherd faithfully leads those who willingly place their lives in His hands.

Follow the Good Shepherd

The Lord Is My Shepherd offers both comfort and challenge. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who restores, protects, and faithfully leads His sheep. He never abandons those who belong to Him, even when the journey includes valleys or difficult decisions.

This message encourages every believer to know the Good Shepherd more deeply, trust His leadership more fully, hear His voice more clearly, and follow Him wherever He leads. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, you will discover that the safest place to be is always with the Shepherd who knows the way.

Key Scriptures

Psalm 23:1–6, John 10:1–30, Genesis 22:1–14, Galatians 5:22–23, Luke 15:25–32